According to Express & Star, plans are underway for ex-JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing's former estate to be transformed into a huge leisure complex. Shropshire Council's planning officers have recommended that ambitious redevelopment plans for the Astbury Estate near Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England are given planning permission. The 354-acre site, which includes a top class 18-hole golf course, was owned by Downing, but was put up for sale in 2017 after four of his businesses went into administration (similar to Chapter 11 insolvency in the U.S.). The site's new owners, FCFM Group, bought the premises last year and submitted proposals to Shropshire Council. They include building a leisure and spa building, two swimming pools, a farm shop, a function room, restaurant and spa, an outdoor lido pool, tennis courts, bowling greens, a new nine-hole golf course and an 18-hole putting green. Last year, Downing also sold his share of the royalty rights to 136 of PRIEST's tracks, including classic songs "Breaking The Law", "Living After Midnight" and "Painkiller", to Round Hill Music. The rights consist of Downing's publishing and writer's share, and his artist royalties from the master recordings. K.K., who is a founding member of the British heavy metal legends and was part of the group since 1969, announced his retirement from PRIEST in April 2011. He later shot down as "inaccurate" reports that he left JUDAS PRIEST because he chose to concentrate on running the golf courses on his property.
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